Victor Wembanyama’s NBA career has so far had the feeling of watching a velociraptor open a series of doors, and he broke through another one on Friday.
With a game against the Denver Nuggets coming down to the final possession, Wembanyama was tasked with guarding three-time MVP Nikola Jokić with a one-point lead. Jokić, perhaps the most offensively effective player of a generation, turned to his signature Sombor Shuffle move for a game-winning basket.
The move, which has regularly thrown off some of the best paint defenders in the NBA, didn’t fool Wembanyama, who matched Jokić step for step and had a hand ready for the shot. Jokić has to force a pass to the perimeter in response, which as picked off by Devin Vassell for an easy lay-up.
It’s really hard to understate how massive that play is for Wembanyama and the Spurs, who improved their record to 18-16 with the win. Wembanyama has looked special since he first put on a Spurs jersey, but it’s clear at this point he’s taken a step forward after one of the most statistically impressive rookie years in NBA history.
“I think he’s better this year than last year,” Jokić said after the game. “I think he’s going to get even better with experience, how his body’s changing … I think he is one of a kind and is going to be remembered forever.”
Wembanyama currently leads all NBA players in every conceivable stat involving blocks (as well as stocks), along with three deflections per game (23rd in the NBA, in a stat where perimeter players fare better). Despite having the third-highest usage rate in the league, his offensive efficiency has taken a step forward as well, with progress in field goal percentage (.465 to .480), 3-point percentage (.325 to .355), turnovers per game (4.4 to 3.8) and fouls per game (2.6 to 2.2).
Basically, he is the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year, while shouldering and succeeding with an enormous load on offense, based on stats entering Friday. In Friday’s game, he finished with 35 points on 14-of-22 shooting, 18 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and seven turnovers.
In addition to stats, he just keeps doing ridiculous stuff. Such as taking 3-pointers from the logo just because he can.
Friday was Wembanyama’s 100th career game. As the Spurs’ Jordan Howenstine noted on X, in his first 100 games he has:
-
more points than LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony
-
more rebounds than Anthony Davis, Patrick Ewing and Joel Embiid
-
more blocks than Shaquille O’Neal, Dikembe Mutombo and Hakeem Olajuwon
-
more 3-pointers than Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Trae Young
We are running out of precedents for evaluating Wembanyama’s early career. The guy who entered the NBA with limitless potential already looks like an elite player at age 20, and there is legitimately no telling how much further he could reach.